BRUINS NOTEBOOK: Julien uncertain about lineup for Saturday’s game against Lightning.

The Bruins found out Friday afternoon that the start time for Saturday’s game had been moved to 7 p.m. They weren’t as sure if injured wingers Brad Marchand, Daniel Paille or Shawn Thornton would be available for the game.

As they walked out of TD Garden on Friday afternoon, the Bruins weren’t sure when, or even if, they’d end up hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

That was settled by mid-afternoon, when game time was switched to 7 p.m. from its original 1 p.m. in deference to blizzard conditions that were expected to last until early afternoon.

There was still some uncertainty, however, about who would play for the Bruins, who were without three wingers in Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Montreal – none of whom had been cleared to return as of Friday’s practice.

Daniel Paille (eye) and Shawn Thornton (concussion), both out since getting hurt on Jan. 31 against Buffalo, seemed closest to playing against the Lightning.

“Right now, they’re feeling good,” coach Claude Julien said after Paille and Thornton went through Friday’s entire practice with their usual center, Gregory Campbell. “All I need is for them to be cleared medically to play. ... If they’re cleared to play, it’s not an issue.”

Julien said Marchand, who leads the B’s with five goals despite missing Wednesday’s game, was “day-to-day ... at a point where we’ve got to consider him being a possibility (Saturday).”

Marchand, who sustained a suspected left shoulder injury when he crashed into the boards last Saturday at Toronto, practiced twice during the week, and took Thursday off, like most of those on the Bruins’ top three lines.

“(The injury) is just something that’s aggravating me a bit,” he said. “I just want to make sure it’s not going to affect my safety out there.

“Guys play through (minor, nagging injuries) all the time. That’s not an issue. I don’t mind playing through things. I just want to make sure it’s not something that can be re-occurring. I’m not going to put myself in a vulnerable position.”

As antagonistic as he is talented, it’s hard to for Marchand to be effective if he’s not involved physically.

“You don’t want to go out there and be a liability, and just be floating around,” he said. “You want to help to the team. You don’t want to be detrimental.

“Also, it’s frustrating when you’re out there, and you’re not able to be your best, and you know you can do better. You might as well just wait until you can help the team.”

So long, Timmy

The Bruins, by and large, were gracious when it came to the official departure of goalie Tim Thomas, who was traded on Thursday to the New York Islanders.

Page 2 of 2 - “I’ve only been here two years, but in those years, it was always fun playing with him,” said defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. “I wish him all the best, and hopefully he doesn’t play too well against us if he comes back.”

Said Julien: “Even for those who kind of view him differently as a person, I never had an issue with Tim. That doesn’t mean there weren’t times when we talked about the differences, but we always worked it out.

“We never felt he was a distraction. He was just a guy who thought differently. Guys would say ‘As long as he stops pucks, we’re OK with it.’”

David Krejci didn’t seem bothered, though, that questions about Thomas might have come to an end.

“He hasn’t been with us the whole year,” Krejci said of Thomas, who told the Bruins last spring he was taking this season off. “I know it’s only been nine, 10 games, but it seems way longer.

“He did a lot for this organization. He was a big part of winning the (2011) Stanley Cup, but now he’s gone. We don’t miss him right now. We have (Tuukka Rask), and he’s playing great.”

Around the boards

With Thomas officially gone, Patrice Bergeron becomes the longest-serving Bruin, having joined the team as an 18-year-old in 2003-04. “I hadn’t thought of that,” said Bergeron, who has played 546 career games. “I’m the last man standing.” ... The Bruins visit Buffalo on Sunday (7 p.m., NESN).